High school volleyball: The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area team

First- and second-team selections for The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area volleyball team.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Devyn Oestreich, Capital, junior outside hitter — Making her third appearance on the All-Area team, Oestreich scored match point in the Cougars’ state championship win over Mercer Island as a freshman in 2017 and hasn’t looked back. The Western Washington University commit was this season’s 3A South Sound Conference Most Valuable Player after recording 270 kills, 220 digs, 55 service aces and 404 service returns. Her career total of 146 aces is already a Capital school record with a season to go.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Katie Turcotte, Capital — Turcotte takes the honor for the second time in three years after guiding the Cougars to a 19-2 record and a second-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. In her fourth season at Capital, Turcotte has coached her teams to at least a fourth-place finish at state every year, including the 2017 state title. Her overall record of 76-10 includes six losses her first season. She’s part of two prominent local coaching trees, having played under Tom Kelleher on a state runner-up team at Capital and served as an assistant coach to legendary coach Laurie Creighton at Olympia.

FIRST TEAM

Ellie Boksch, Tumwater, senior outside hitter — The 2A Evergreen Conference MVP led Tumwater back into the state tournament with 2.84 kills per set and 3.76 digs per set. Second team pick last season as a middle blocker.

Leah Cairns, Tumwater, senior middle blocker — First team All-2A EvCo pick averaged 2.14 kills and 0.62 blocks per set while also exhibiting leadership skills.

Emily Chisa, River Ridge, senior outside hitter — One of two seniors on this year’s All-Area team to be selected to the first or second team each year of her high school career, the 6-foot Chisa was first team All-2A South Puget Sound League after leading the Hawks to the state tournament with 165 kills, 128 digs, 31 aces and 11 solo blocks.

Kalissa Lane, Olympia, senior setter — Second team All-4A SPSL choice averaged 7 assists per set and served at an 88 percent clip.

Quin Mikel, Elma, senior outside hitter — The 1A Evergreen Conference MVP was a second team All-Area choice last season. Mikel’s senior season produced 160 kills, highlighted by 27 in an early-season win over 2A Black Hills. The 6-footer had more than 600 career kills and 600 career digs.

Brenna Nelson, Black Hills, senior outside hitter — Nelson led the Wolves to a 9-1 league mark, tied atop the 2A EvCo with Tumwater, earning first team all-league honors.

Maia Nichols, Capital, senior outside hitter — The Arizona State-bound beach volleyball player made the most of her time on the hardwood, being named state 3A player of the year in 2017 by the coaches’ association and All-Area POY by The Olympian in 2018. Nichols is a four-time member of either the All-Area first or second team. She leaves Capital with school records for career kills with 1169 and career digs with 1026. She led this season’s Cougars with 306 kills and 237 digs.

Madison Nichols, Capital, junior middle blocker — First team All-3A SSC pick led the Cougars in hitting percentage at .372, adding 238 digs, 50 total blocks and 42 aces.

Lauren Porter, North Thurston, senior libero — The 3A South Sound Conference Defensive Player of the Year broke the Rams school record for digs as a sophomore and kept adding to it until she finished with more than 1200. This season she added a career-high 46 aces and 207 serve receptions.

Addie Robertson, North Thurston, junior outside hitter — Second team All-3A SSC pick led the Rams with 242 kills on a .395 hitting percentage. She also had 30 aces and 20 blocks.

Jayln Sackrider, Elma, senior middle blocker — Sackrider led the Eagles with 180 kills on a .379 hitting percentage. She also had 24 aces, 21 blocks and 116 digs. She’s a repeat first team All-Area player.

Kaillie Storm, Black Hills, senior setter — First team all-2A EvCo pick helped lead the Wolves deep into this season’s District 4 tournament after finishing tied atop the league standings with Tumwater at 9-1.

SECOND TEAM

Paytton Crawford, W.F. West, senior setter, Olivia Huff, Capital, senior middle blocker, Lexi Jones-Sederberg, Rochester, senior middle blocker, Maddie Matthews, Capital, senior setter, Kali Rambo, Elma, senior outside hitter, Avi Vetter, Olympia, junior outside hitter, Ashlyn Whalen, W.F. West, senior outside hitter